What to do if the search menu does not work in Windows 11
Windows 11, like its predecessors, has a search menu. You can use it to search for apps and open them directly. The search menu can be used to search for and open files as well. It’s a great quick-launch tool if you know the name of the item you’re looking for. If you have some vague idea as to what a file or folder is called, you can use the search menu to find it.
Search menu does not work in Windows 11
The search menu in Windows 11 is almost an extension of the start menu. Windows 11 still has a search bar on the taskbar but it too opens the search menu. If the search menu isn’t working; it doesn’t open, you can’t type in it, or it cannot find apps, files, and folders, try the fixes below.
1. Open the run box
This is a quick fix which is why it’s definitely worth a try. Open the run box with the Win+R keyboard shortcut. Close the box and check if the search menu is working.
2. Restart the Search process
Search on Windows 11 runs as its own, stand-alone process. Like any other process, it can run into problems. You can manually restart the process.
- Open the Task Manager.
- Go to the Details tab.
- Look for SearhHost.exe.
- Select the process and click the End Task button at the bottom right.
3. Restart Search service
Search on Windows 11 runs an underlying service. Restarting this service can fix problems with the search menu.
- Tap the Win+R keyboard shortcut to open the run box.
- In the run box, enter services.msc and tap the Enter key.
- Look for the Windows Search service.
- Right-click the service and select Stop.
- Wait a few minutes.
- Right-click the service again, and click Start.
4. Run the search troubleshooter
Windows 11 has a built-in troubleshooter for the search feature. If the other fixes don’t work, you should run the troubleshooter and apply the fixes that it recommends.
- Open the Settings app with the Win+I keyboard shortcut.
- Go to System.
- Select Troubleshoot.
- Click Other troubleshooters.
- Click the Run button next to the Search and Indexing troubleshooter.
- Apply all fixes that it recommends.
5. Check indexing is enabled
Indexing allows Windows search to work. If it’s been turned off, you won’t see any results in Windows search.
- Open the Settings app with the Win+I keyboard shortcut.
- Go to Privacy & Security and select Searching Windows.
- Under Find my files, select Enhanced.
If indexing isn’t enabled, click Advanced indexing options on this same screen. In the window that opens;
- Click the Modify button.
- Select the different drives on your system.
- Click OK.
- The selected locations will now be included in the index.
Note: it will take time to index everything. Your system may slow down while the files are being indexed.
6. Rebuild search index
Your search index may be broken. This can happen when Windows installs updates, or if you’ve recently repaired your system after a crash, among other things.
- Open Control Panel.
- Use the dropdown at the top right and select Small icons.
- Select Indexing options.
- Click the Advanced button.
- Click the Rebuild button.
Rebuilding the index will take some time. Be patient and Windows search should start working in a day or two.
7. Check for updates
You may have installed a defective update. It’s not your fault; the updates come via Windows Update and Microsoft does, on occasion, release defective updates. It fixes the problem by releasing a fix for it via Windows Updates. Check for pending updates and install them.
- Open the Settings app with the Win+I keyboard shortcut.
- Go to Windows Update.
- Check for updates and download and install the available updates.
Conclusion
Windows search is a core Windows feature. It’s hard to use the OS without it. Windows 10 had problems with the search feature as well when it was first released and Windows 11 seems to be having similar problems. The OS is still very young so it’s likely, given a few months, these problems will be solved via the monthly updates.
